HEROES OF MIGHT AND MAGIC 7

Filch owned a cat called Mrs. Norris, a scrawny, dust-colored creature with bulging, lamplike eyes just like Filchs. She patrolled the corridors alone. Break a rule in front of her, continue reading just one toe out of line, and shed whisk off for Filch, whod appear, wheezing, two seconds later. Filch knew the secret passageways of the school better than anyone (except perhaps the Weasley twins) and could pop up as suddenly as any of the ghosts. The students all hated him, and it was the dearest ambition of many to give Mrs. Norris a good kick. And then, once you had managed to find them, there were the classes themselves. There was a lot more to magic, as Harry quickly found out, than waving your wand and saying a few funny words. They had coc winter update 2022 study the night skies through their telescopes every Wednesday at midnight and learn the names of different stars and the movements of the planets. Three times a week they went out to the greenhouses behind the castle to study Herbology, with a dumpy little witch called Professor Sprout, where https://gameslikeclashofclans.cloud/android/games-like-age-of-empires-for-android.php learned how to take care of all the strange plants and fungi, and found out what they were used for. Easily the most boring class was History of Magic, which was the only one taught by Th13 base ghost. Professor Binns had been very old indeed when he had fallen asleep in front of the staffroom fire and got up next morning to teach, leaving his body behind him. Binns droned on and on while they scribbled down names and dates, and got Emeric the Evil and Uric the Oddball mixed up. Professor Flitwick, the Charms teacher, was a tiny little wizard who had to stand on a pile of books to see over his desk. At the start of their first class he took the roll call, and when he reached Harrys name he gave an excited squeak and toppled out of sight. Professor McGonagall was again different. Harry had been quite right to think she wasnt a teacher to cross. Strict and clever, she gave them a talkingto the moment they sat down in her first class. Transfiguration is some of the most complex and dangerous magic you will learn at Hogwarts, she said. Anyone messing around in my class will leave and not come back. You have been warned. Then she changed her desk into a pig and back again. They were all very impressed and couldnt wait to get started, but soon realized they werent going to be changing the furniture into animals for a long time. After taking a lot of complicated notes, they were each given a match and started trying to turn it into a needle. By the end of the lesson, only Hermione Granger had made any difference to her match; Professor McGonagall showed the class how it had gone all silver and pointy and gave Hermione a rare smile. The class everyone had really been looking forward to was Defense Against the Dark Arts, but Quirrells lessons turned out to be a bit of a joke. His classroom smelled strongly of garlic, which everyone said was to ward off a vampire hed met in Romania and was afraid would go here coming back to get him one of these days. His turban, he told them, had been given to him by an African prince as a thank-you for getting rid of a troublesome zombie, but they werent sure they believed this story. For one thing, when Seamus Finnigan asked eagerly to hear how Quirrell had fought off the zombie, Quirrell went pink and started talking about the weather; for another, they had noticed that a funny smell hung around the turban, and the Weasley twins insisted that it was stuffed full of garlic as well, so that Quirrell was protected wherever he went. Harry was very relieved to find out that he wasnt miles behind everyone else. Lots of people had come from Muggle families and, like him, hadnt had any idea that they were witches and wizards. There was so much to learn that even people like Ron didnt have much of a head start. Friday was an important day for Harry and Ron. They finally managed to find their way down to the Great Hall for breakfast without getting lost once. What have we got today. Harry asked Ron as he poured sugar on his porridge. Double Potions with the Slytherins, said Ron. Snapes Head of Slytherin House. They say he always favors them - well be able to see if its true. Wish McGonagall favored us, said Harry. Professor McGonagall was head of Gryffindor House, but it hadnt stopped her from giving them a huge pile of homework the day before. Just then, the mail arrived. Harry had gotten used to this by now, but it had given him a bit of a shock on the first morning, when about a hundred owls had suddenly streamed into the Great Hall during breakfast, circling the tables until they saw their owners, and dropping letters and packages onto their laps. Hedwig hadnt brought Harry anything so far. She sometimes flew in to nibble his ear and have a bit of toast before going off to sleep in the owlery with the other school owls. This morning, however, she fluttered down between the marmalade and the sugar bowl and dropped a note onto Harrys plate. Harry tore it open at once. It said, in a very untidy scrawl: Dear Harry, I know you get Friday afternoons off, so would you like to come and have a cup of tea Th13 base me around three. I want to hear all about your first week. Send us an answer back with Hedwig. Hagrid Harry borrowed Rons quill, scribbled Yes, please, see you later on the back of the note, and sent Hedwig off again. It was lucky that Harry had tea with Hagrid to look forward to, because the Potions lesson turned out to be the worst thing that had happened to him so far. At the start-of-term banquet, Harry had gotten the idea that Professor Snape disliked him. By the end of the first Potions please click for source, he knew hed been wrong. Snape didnt dislike Harry - he hated him. Potions lessons took place down in one of the dungeons. It was colder here than up in the main castle, and would have been quite creepy enough without the pickled animals floating in glass jars all around read more walls. Snape, like Flitwick, started the class by taking the roll call, and like Flitwick, he paused at Harrys name. Ah, yes, he said softly, Harry Potter. Our new - celebrity. Draco Malfoy and his friends Crabbe and Goyle sniggered behind their hands. Snape finished calling the names and looked up at the class. His eyes were black like Hagrids, but they had none of Hagrids warmth. They were cold and empty and made you think of dark tunnels. You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making, he began. He spoke in barely more than a whisper, but they caught every word - like Professor McGonagall, Snape had the gift of keeping a class silent without effort. As there is https://gameslikeclashofclans.cloud/games/phone-games-to-play-with-friends.php foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I dont expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses. I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death - if you arent as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach. More silence followed this little speech. Harry and Ron exchanged looks with raised eyebrows. Hermione Granger was on the edge of her seat and looked desperate to start proving that she wasnt a dunderhead. Potter. said Snape suddenly. What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood. Powdered root of what to an infusion of what. Harry glanced at Ron, who looked as stumped as he was; Hermiones hand had shot into the air. I dont know, sir, said Harry. Snapes lips curled into a sneer. Tut, tut - fame clearly isnt everything. He ignored Hermiones hand. Lets try again. Potter, where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar. Hermione stretched her hand as high into the air as it would go without her leaving her seat, but Harry didnt have the faintest idea what a bezoar was. He tried not to look at Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle, who were shaking with laughter. I dont know, sir. Thought you wouldnt open a book before coming, eh, Potter. Harry forced himself to keep looking straight into those cold eyes. He had looked through his books at the Dursleys, but did Snape expect him to remember everything in One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi. Snape was still ignoring Hermiones quivering hand. What is the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane. At this, Hermione stood up, her hand stretching toward the dungeon ceiling. I dont know, said Harry quietly. I think Hermione does, though, why dont you try her. A few people laughed; Harry caught Seamuss eye, and Seamus winked. Snape, however, was not pleased. Sit down, he snapped at Hermione. For your information, Potter, asphodel and wormwood make a sleeping potion so powerful it is known as the Draught of Living Death. A bezoar is a stone taken from the stomach of a goat and it will save you from most poisons. As for monkshood and wolfsbane, they are the same plant, which also goes by the name of aconite. Well. Why arent you all copying that down. There was a sudden rummaging for quills and parchment. Over the noise, Snape said, And a point will be taken from Gryffindor House for your cheek, Potter. Things didnt improve for the Gryffindors as the Potions lesson continued. Snape put them all into pairs and set them to mixing up a simple potion to cure boils. He swept around in his long black cloak, watching them weigh dried nettles and crush snake fangs, criticizing almost everyone except Malfoy, whom he seemed to like. He was just telling everyone to look at the perfect way Malfoy had stewed his horned slugs when clouds of acid green smoke and a loud hissing filled the dungeon. Neville had somehow managed to melt Seamuss cauldron into a twisted blob, and their potion was seeping across the stone floor, burning holes in peoples shoes. Within seconds, the whole class was standing on their stools while Neville, who had been drenched in the potion when the cauldron collapsed, moaned in pain as angry red boils sprang up all over his arms and legs. Idiot boy. snarled Snape, clearing the spilled potion away with one wave of his wand. I suppose you added the porcupine quills before taking the cauldron off the fire. Neville whimpered as boils started to pop up all over his nose. Take him up to the hospital wing, Snape spat at Seamus. Then he rounded on Harry and Ron, who had been working next to Neville. You - Potter - why didnt you tell him not to add the quills. Thought hed make you look good if he got it wrong, did check this out. Thats another point youve lost for Gryffindor. This was so unfair that Harry opened his mouth to argue, but Ron kicked him behind their cauldron. Dont push it, he muttered, Ive heard Snape can turn very nasty. As they climbed the steps out of the dungeon an hour later, Harrys mind was racing and his spirits were low. Hed lost two points for Gryffindor in his very first week - why did Snape hate him so much. Cheer up, said Ron, Snapes always taking points off Fred and George. Can I come and meet Hagrid with you. At five to three they left the castle and made their way across the grounds. Hagrid lived in a small wooden house on the edge of the forbidden forest. A crossbow and a pair of galoshes were outside the front door. When Harry knocked they heard a frantic scrabbling from inside and several booming barks. Then Hagrids voice rang out, saying, Back, Fang - back. Hagrids big, hairy face appeared in the crack as he pulled the door open. Hang on, he said. Back, Fang. He let them in, struggling to keep a hold on the collar of an enormous black boarhound. There was only one room inside. Hams and pheasants were hanging from the ceiling, a copper kettle was boiling on the open fire, and in the corner stood a massive bed with a patchwork quilt over it. Make yerselves at home, said Th13 base, letting go of Fang, who bounded straight at Ron and started licking his ears. Like Hagrid, Fang was clearly not as fierce as he looked. This is Ron, Harry told Hagrid, who was pouring boiling water into a large teapot and putting rock cakes onto a Th13 base. Another Weasley, eh. said Hagrid, glancing at Rons freckles. I spent half me life chasin yer twin brothers away from the forest. The rock cakes were shapeless lumps with raisins that almost broke their teeth, but Harry and Ron pretended to be enjoying them click at this page they told Hagrid all about their first lessons. Fang rested his head on Harrys knee and drooled all over his robes. Harry and Ron were delighted to hear Hagrid call Filch that old git. An as fer that cat, Mrs. Norris, Id like ter introduce her to Fang sometime. Dyeh know, every time I go up ter the school, she follows me everywhere. Cant get rid of her - Filch puts her up to it. Harry told Hagrid about Snapes lesson. Hagrid, like Ron, told Harry not to worry about it, that Snape liked hardly any of the students. But he seemed to really hate me. Rubbish. said Hagrid. Why should he. Yet Harry couldnt help thinking that Hagrid didnt quite meet his eyes when he said that. Hows yer brother Charlie. Hagrid asked Ron. I liked him a lot - great with animals. Harry wondered if Hagrid had changed the subject on purpose. While Ron told Hagrid all about Charlies work with dragons, Harry picked up a piece of paper that was lying on the table under the tea cozy. It was a cutting from the Daily Prophet: GRINGOTTS BREAK-IN LATEST Investigations continue into the break-in at Gringotts on 31 July, widely believed to be the work of Dark wizards or witches unknown. Gringotts goblins today insisted that nothing had been taken. The vault that was searched had in fact been emptied the same day. But were not telling you what was in there, so keep your noses out if you know whats good for you, said a Gringotts spokesgoblin this afternoon. Harry remembered Ron telling him on the train that someone had tried to rob Gringotts, but Ron hadnt mentioned the date. Hagrid. said Harry, that Gringotts break-in happened on my birthday. It mightve been happening all best rts time of we were there. There was no doubt about it, Hagrid definitely didnt meet Harrys eyes this time. He grunted and offered him another rock cake. Harry read the story again. The vault that was searched had in fact been emptied earlier that same day. Hagrid had emptied vault seven hundred and thirteen, if you could call it emptying, taking out that grubby little package. Had that been what the thieves were looking for. As Harry and Ron walked back to the source for dinner, their pockets weighed down with rock cakes theyd been too polite to refuse, Harry thought that none of the lessons hed had so far had given him as much to think about as tea with Hagrid. Had Hagrid collected that package just in time. Where was it now. And did Hagrid know something about Snape that he didnt want to tell Harry. H CHAPTER NINE THE MIDNIGHT DUEL arry had never believed he would meet a boy he hated more than Dudley, but that was before he met Draco Malfoy. Still, first-year Gryffindors only had Potions with the Slytherins, so they didnt have to put up with Malfoy much. Or at least, they didnt until they spotted a notice pinned up in the Gryffindor common room that made them all groan. Flying lessons would be starting on Thursday - and Gryffindor and Slytherin would be learning together. Typical, said Harry darkly. Just what I always wanted. To make a fool of myself on a broomstick in front of Malfoy. He had been looking forward to learning to fly more than anything else. You dont know that youll make a fool of yourself, said Ron reasonably. Anyway, I know Malfoys always going on about how good he is at Quidditch, but I bet thats all talk. Malfoy certainly did talk about flying a lot. He complained loudly about first years never getting on the House Quidditch teams and told long, boastful stories that always seemed to end with him narrowly escaping Muggles in helicopters. He wasnt the only one, though: the way Seamus Finnigan told it, hed spent most of his childhood zooming around the countryside on his broomstick. Even Ron would tell anyone whod listen about the time hed almost hit a hang glider on Charlies old broom. Everyone from wizarding families talked about Quidditch constantly. Ron had already had a big argument with Dean Thomas, who shared their dormitory, about soccer. Ron couldnt see what was exciting about a game with only one ball where no one was allowed to fly. Harry had caught Ron prodding Deans poster of West Ham soccer team, trying to make the players move. Neville had never been on a broomstick in his life, because his grandmother had never let him near one. Privately, Harry felt shed had good reason, because Neville managed to have an extraordinary number of accidents even with both feet on the ground. Hermione Granger was almost as nervous about flying as Neville was. This was something you couldnt learn by heart out of a book - not that she hadnt tried. At breakfast on Thursday she bored them all stupid with flying tips shed gotten out of a library book called Quidditch Through the Ages. Neville was hanging on to her every word, desperate for anything that might help him hang on to his broomstick later, but everybody else was very pleased when Hermiones lecture was interrupted by the arrival of the mail. Harry hadnt had a single letter since Hagrids note, something that Malfoy had been quick to notice, of course. Malfoys eagle owl was always bringing him packages of sweets from home, which he opened gloatingly at the Slytherin table. A barn owl brought Neville a small package from his grandmother. He opened it excitedly and showed them a glass ball the size of a large marble, which seemed to be full of white smoke. Its a Remembrall. he explained. Gran knows I forget things - this tells you if theres something youve forgotten to do. Look, you hold it tight like this and if it turns red - oh.

About you. Harrys confusion increased. Who would be writing to Uncle Vernon about him. Who did he know who sent letters by the postman. Uncle Vernon glared at Harry, then looked down at the letter and began to read aloud: Dear Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, We have never been introduced, but I am sure you have heard a great deal from Here about my son Ron. As Harry might have told you, the final of the Quidditch World Cup takes place this Monday night, and my husband, Arthur, has just managed to get prime tickets through his connections at the Department of Magical Games and Sports. I do hope you will allow us to take Harry to the match, as this really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; Britain Steaam250 hosted the Cup for thirty years, and tickets are extremely hard to come by. We would of course be glad to have Harry stay for the remainder of the summer holidays, and to see him safely onto the train back to school. It would be best for Harry to send us your answer as quickly as possible in the normal way, because the Muggle postman has never delivered to our house, and I am not sure he even knows where it is. Hoping to see Harry soon, Yours sincerely, P. I do hope weve put enough stamps on. Uncle Vernon finished reading, put his hand back into his SSteam250 pocket, and drew out something else. Look at this, he growled. He held up the envelope in which Mrs. Weasleys letter had come, and Harry learn more here to fight down a laugh. Every bit of it was covered in stamps except for a square inch on the front, into which Mrs. Weasley had squeezed the Dursleys address in Steam250 writing. She did put enough stamps on, then, said Harry, trying to sound as though Mrs. Weasleys was a mistake anyone could make. His uncles eyes flashed. The postman noticed, he said through gritted teeth. Very interested to know where Stdam250 letter came from, he was. Thats why he rang the doorbell. Seemed to think it was funny. Harry didnt say anything. Other people might not understand why Uncle Vernon was making a fuss about too many stamps, but Harry had lived with the Dursleys too long not to know how touchy they were about anything even slightly out of the ordinary. Their worst Stfam250 was that someone would find out that they were connected (however distantly) with people like Mrs. Weasley. Uncle Steam250 was still glaring at Harry, who tried to keep his Stea2m50 neutral. If he didnt do or say anything stupid, he might just be in for the treat of a lifetime. He waited for Uncle Vernon to say something, but he merely continued to glare. Harry decided to break the silence. So - can I go then. he asked. A slight spasm crossed Uncle Vernons large purple face. The mustache bristled. Harry thought he knew what was going on behind the mustache: a furious battle as two of Uncle Vernons most fundamental instincts came into just click for source. Allowing Harry to go would make Harry happy, go here Uncle Vernon had struggled against for thirteen years. On the other hand, allowing Harry to disappear to the Weasleys for the rest Steam250 the summer would get rid of him two weeks earlier than anyone could have hoped, and Uncle Vernon hated having Harry in the house. To give himself thinking time, it seemed, he looked down Steam250 Mrs. Weasleys letter again. Who is this woman. he said, staring at the signature with distaste. Youve seen her, said Harry. Shes my friend Rons mother, she was meeting him off the Hog - off the school train at the end of last term. He had almost said Hogwarts Express, and that was a sure way to get his uncles temper up. Nobody ever mentioned the name of Harrys school aloud in the Dursley household. Uncle Vernon screwed up his enormous face as though trying to remember something very unpleasant. Dumpy sort of woman. he growled finally. Load of children with red hair. Harry frowned. He thought it was a bit rich of Uncle Vernon to call anyone dumpy, when his own son, Dudley, had finally achieved what hed been threatening to do since the age of three, and become wider than he Stdam250 tall. Uncle Vernon was perusing the letter again. Quidditch, he muttered under his breath. Quidditch Steamm250 what is this rubbish. Harry felt a second stab of annoyance. Its a sport, he said shortly. Played on broom - All right, all right. said Uncle Vernon loudly. Harry saw, with some satisfaction, that his uncle looked vaguely panicky. Apparently his nerves couldnt stand the sound of the word broomsticks in his living room. He took refuge in perusing the letter again. Harry saw his lips form the words send us your answer. in the normal way. He scowled. What does she mean, the normal way. he spat. Normal for us, said Harry, and before his uncle could stop him, he added, you know, owl post. Thats whats normal for Stea2m50. Uncle Vernon looked as outraged as if Harry had just uttered a disgusting swearword. Shaking with anger, he shot a nervous look through the window, as though expecting to see some of the neighbors with their ears pressed against the glass. How many times do I have to tell you not to mention that unnaturalness under my roof. he hissed, his face now a rich plum color. You stand there, in the clothes Petunia and I have click the following article on your ungrateful back - Only after Dudley finished with them, said Harry coldly, and indeed, friday night funkin mobile download was dressed in a sweatshirt so large for Stwam250 that he had had to roll back the sleeves five times so as to be able to use his hands, and which fell past the knees of his extremely baggy jeans. I will not be spoken to like that. said Uncle Vernon, trembling with rage. But Harry wasnt going to stand for this. Gone were the days when he had been forced to take every single one of the Dursleys stupid rules. He wasnt following Dudleys diet, and he wasnt going to let Uncle Vernon stop him from going to Stram250 Quidditch World Cup, not if he could help it. Harry took a deep, steadying breath and then said, Okay, I cant see the World Cup. Can I go Steam250, then. Only Ive got a letter to Sirius I want to finish. You know - my godfather. He had done it. He had said the magic words. Now he watched the purple recede blotchily from Uncle Vernons face, making it look like badly mixed black currant ice Stexm250. Youre - youre writing to him, are you. said Uncle Vernon, in a wouldbe calm voice - Stezm250 Harry had seen the pupils of his tiny eyes contract with sudden fear. Well - yeah, said Harry, casually. Its been a while since he heard from me, and, you know, if he doesnt, he might start thinking somethings wrong. He stopped there to enjoy the effect of these words. He could almost see the cogs working under Uncle Vernons thick, dark, neatly parted hair. Steam250 he tried to stop Harry writing to Sirius, Sirius would think Harry was being mistreated. If he told Harry he couldnt go Steam2250 the Quidditch World Cup, Harry would write and tell Sirius, who would know Harry was being mistreated.